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LALLI JOHNS - dir. THORFINNUR GUDNASON

Synopsis: Lalli Johns is a small-time criminal in Reykjavik. He as lived on the streets for thirty years and his only fixed address is the jail where he has served a total of seventeen years for thirty-five convictions for petty theft and a variety of other offences. Yet every time he leaves prison he wows to better himself, stop drinking, stealing and taking drugs. Director Thorfinn Gudnason followed Lalli for three years, on his various trips to the Litla Hraun-jail, to the social services and favourite pubs, filled with friends. But through the haze of smoke and intoxication Lalli turns out to be an incurable optimist: “One joint a day keeps the blues away!”

Original Title: Lalli Johns

English title: Lalli Johns

Original language: Icelandic

Sub titled version: English & Danish

Type of film: Documentary

Genre: Creative documentary

Year of production: 2001

 

Date of theatrical release in Iceland: 29. Mars 2001 

Festivals: IDFA Amsterdam 2001

Awards & Nominations: Edda-Award, best documentary

 

Producer: Thorfinn Gudnason

Production Company : Villingur

Address: Klapparstígur 25-27, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland

Tel: 354-5529300          

Fax: 354-5526087         

Email: ow@oneway.is

Co-producer: Guðbergur Davidsson

Production supported by: Icelandic Film Fund, c/o Kristin Palsdottir

Director: Thorfinn Gudnason

Script Writer: Thorfinn Gudnason

Orginal Score: Midnes, Þorbjörn Á. Erlingsson

Director of Photography: Thorfinnur Gudnason

Line Producer: Bryndís J.Gunnarsdóttir

Sound Design: Thorbjörn Á. Erlingsson

Editor: Thorfinnur Gudnason

 

 

Lalli Johns

Synopsis

 

 

Lalli Johns is a small-time criminal in Reykjavik. He as lived on the streets for thirty years and his only fixed address is the jail where he has served a total of seventeen years for thirty-five convictions for petty theft and a variety of other offences. Yet every time he leaves prison he wows to better himself, stop drinking, stealing and taking drugs. Director Thorfinn Gudnason followed Lalli for three years, on his various trips to the Litla Hraun-jail, to the social services and favourite pubs, filled with friends. But through the haze of smoke and intoxication Lalli turns out to be an incurable optimist: “One joint a day keeps the blues away!”

 

 

Personal statement:

 

I first met Lalli in a billiard parlour in down-town Reykjavik some twenty-five years ago. I was fifteen years old and a bit wild, but Lalli was twenty-five. To me and my friends he seemed the coolest cat on the scene. He drank Aquavit and lemonade and had his packets full of money which he gave away left and right. Lalli Johns as always generous with his possessions and as one of his friends puts it in the film: “Lalli Johns will even give you his last cigarette.”

In the three years when I later followed Lalli with my camera I discovered that he is an incurable kleptomaniac. One cold winter night I let him stay in my flat and he repaid my hospitality by making off with my watch. But once you have gotten to know Lalli you cannot ever get angry with him. Rather you feel like adopting him as a son.

 

 

From the reviews:

 

“Brilliant from beginning to end.”

Thorarinn Thorarinsson, Strik.is

 

“Drama and pitch-black humour combine in colourful tumult. One of Iceland’s best documentries.”

Sæbjörn Valdimarsson, The daily Morgunbladid

 

“Lalli Johns is a documentary as good as they get.”

Hilmar Karlsson, The daily DV

 

“A seminal film, a masterpiece.”

Olafur H. Torfason, RUV, Radio 2

 

 

Main Cast: Lalli Johns

 

Running time: 85 min                

Video format: DV-cam

 

World Sales      Tel: 5529300

Fax 5526087

Email: ow@oneway.is

 

Festival Contact: Thorfinn Gudnason

Tel: 5529300

Fax: 5526087

Email: ow@oneway.is